[Coco] MESS needs a C++ programmer dedicated to the Coco

[Mark McDougall]

On 1/05/2011 9:18 AM, Roger Taylor wrote:

> I can't complain about what all it does
> for free but when you start seeing performance decrease while PC's keep
> getting more memory and becoming much faster, I just don't get it. I
> think part of the problem is contributor burnout. What started out being
> a team of a few geeks became a large unorganized team of contributors.
> If everyone isn't on the same page at all times, things fall apart.

The reason you're seeing a performance 'degradation' is because 
MAME/MESS is striving to become a more generic, powerful, cross-platform 
emulation engine that encompasses all manner of arcade games, consoles 
and retro micro computers; and at the same time providing an 
architecture that (supposedly) simplifies the development of new 
targets. And that comes with a price, as any software architect can tell 
you. And let's not forget that the main charter of MAME/MESS is not 
actually performance/usability of the emulation, but rather accuracy in 
emulation and a 'documentation' of classic hardware.

To attribute the downfall to burn-out and disorgansation is a little 
unfair, IHMO. The project now supports so many systems that it is 
impossible to test/verify every target after major architectural changes 
to the core. And let's face it - the Coco is barely a blip on the radar 
when you have Apples, Commodores and NESes to consider.

Not sure if you're aware but there is a large effort underway by the 
MAMEDEV team to merge the MESS code into the mainline project. IIUC, it 
would be wise to put any grand plans of a Coco driver overhaul on hold 
for a while until the merge is complete, or someone could perhaps see 
their hard work obsoleted as soon as it's released.

Regards,

-- 
|    Mark McDougall    |  Error: witty remark not found!
| <http://pacedev.net> |